Share

King Hamilton? Not yet...

accreditation
Champ Mercedes GP driver Lewis Hamilton has become a common sight on the winner’s podium   PHOTO: Clive Mason / Getty Images
Champ Mercedes GP driver Lewis Hamilton has become a common sight on the winner’s podium PHOTO: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton cemented his status as one of the greats with his fifth World Championship title. But is he the greatest? Not a chance ...

Hamilton won his first Drivers’ Championship in 2008 with McLaren, but had to wait and gamble on a move to Mercedes before adding a second in 2014. This year, he brought his tally up to five.

His stature in Formula 1 continues to grow as his five titles have tied him with Juan Manuel Fangio’s record of the second-most championships won.

His 73 race wins are just 18 behind Michael Schumacher’s; his 134 podiums have him second on the list (although his average is best); and he is one of only three drivers to have scored 11 or more grand prix wins in a single season.

He outright holds records such as scoring the most points in one season (408 bagged this year) and having the most pole positions – he has 83 to Schumacher’s 68.

Those numbers are likely to grow next season as, at present, it doesn’t seem as if there will be a strong enough challenge from any of his rivals to stop him from claiming a sixth Drivers’ Championship title.

But, at this point, he is not the greatest – not unless he can get the numbers behind him to support the claim.

Ask most Formula 1 drivers who is the greatest of the greats and they’ll most likely answer Fangio, Ayrton Senna or Schumacher.

Any three of those are justified, whether it be for the period of time in which they raced, their popularity or their stats.

Fangio, who won 24 of the 52 races he entered, competed at a time when safety was nonexistent and drivers genuinely risked their lives every time they stepped into the car.

Senna, a triple World Champion, was a hero, not only for the Brazilian people, but also around the world.

Schumacher has an unprecedented seven World Champion titles and 91 race wins.

Hamilton’s time, though not without its perils, sees ever increasing safety standards in play.

The Halo, a device designed to protect the driver’s head in the event of an accident or flying debris such as a tyre, was introduced this year.

F1’s strides to ensure a safer sport mean the last accident-related death was Jules Bianchi, who crashed in the 2014 Japanese GP. Prior to that, it was Senna, who suffered a fatal crash at Imola in 1994.

Senna was one of the most loved drivers to have raced in Formula 1. He had natural instinct behind the wheel, making overtaking look effortless.

Lines such as “if you no longer go for a gap, you are no longer a racing driver” made him an inspiration to fans as well as the next generation of drivers.

With Hamilton, it is decisive – you either love him or hate him. He is a driver who has courted controversy. In 2007, the acrimony between Hamilton and Fernando Alonso tore McLaren apart and led to so-called Spygate; two years later, he misled the Australian stewards about whether he moved over for Jarno Trulli, thus earning the Italian a penalty; and he was barely speaking to Nico Rosberg at the end of their relationship as they gave one another a beating on the track.

On the personal side, he parties with the rich and famous; lives a jet-set life; launches clothing lines; and is a PR nightmare when he insists on driving cars from rival manufacturers.

But in former racing driver Toto Wolff’s words: “Allow everybody to judge how they perform best – he knows best what’s good for him.”

And that may yet be what secures him that title.

Although Hamilton has only – and I say “only” like that isn’t a phenomenal achievement on its own – five world titles to his name, six seems to be written in the stars and there is plenty of time for seven.

Earlier this year, he signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes that will keep him at the championship-winning team until 2020, and Mercedes appears peerless these days.

Ferrari tried and again failed this year as they shot themselves in the foot mid-season, and Red Bull have swapped to Honda power, which might have improved in speed, but not in reliability.

Title number six seems a given and he would go into the final year of his Mercedes deal chasing number seven.

And even if he doesn’t achieve it at the first try, there is nothing stopping Hamilton from extending his stay in Formula 1 for another year or even four.

A seventh title, maybe an eighth? At least then the stats will say Lewis Hamilton is the greatest.– TEAMtalk Media

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you believe that the various planned marches against load shedding will prompt government to bring solutions and resolve the power crisis?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes
20% - 103 votes
No
80% - 403 votes
Vote